Portable refrigerator



May 14, 1940 J o BRELSFORD Er AL 2,200,465

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed NOV, 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MmmmATTORNEYS May 14, 1940. `.1 o BRELsFoRD Er AL 2.200.465

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Nov. 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II Il i] [ygr' if? 44 W I fa j i? h @02m I f .WZ

f# if /I f f 2 f l BY A TTORNEYS Patented May 14, 1940 PQRTABLEREFRIGERATOR J Brelsford and John T. Conlon, Kansas City, Mo., assignorstoGustin-Bacon Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporationApplication November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,234

8 Claims.

'This invention relates to refrigerators and particularly to the cabinetor portable refrigerators in the nature of those employed by railroadsand truck lines for transporting perishables in quan- .f tities smallerthan carload lots.

Portable refrigerators embodying this invention are usually providedwith means for conveniently moving the cabinets from dock to car or viceversa, and means for anchoring the cabinet in the car or truck fortransportation. As the result of special handling, it is vitallynecessary that the cabinet construction be of a rugged nature and thatthe ice or brine tank of the refrigerator be securely positioned yetremovably mounted so that the box may be thoroughly cleansed at the endof each comparatively short hauling.

The primary object of` this invention, therefore, is to provide arefrigerator with a specially constructed ice or brine tank, which tankhas means for precluding accidental -displacement in any direction asthe same is supported in spaced relation to the walls of therefrigerator cabinet.

A further aim of this invention is the provision of a removable baiileof insulating material that is mounted upon the aforementioned tank insuch fashion as to employ the action of gravity in maintaining the samein operative position and so that an air space is set 01T between bafeand tank.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a refrigeratorcabinet which is strong, durable and will withstand vthe hard usage towhich portable refrigerators are subjected, said cabinet including aunitary sheet metal sheathing Welded or otherwise rigidly fastenedtogether, prior to associating therewith, the reinforcing frame work andlining. v

Minor objects including specific details of con struction and manner ofassembly, Will appear during the course of the following speciiication,referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through aportable refrigerator, em-

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view through aportion of the refrigerator at the ice-receiving opening thereof.

Cabinet l0 of the refrigerator has a compartment l2 therein for thereception of perishables A conventional latch 24 also forms a part `of lthe door assembly, and cleats 26 on the inner face of door 2D insuresthat the lading will notI come so close to the face of the door as topreclude proper circulation of air within compartment l2. Theperishables contained in compartment l2 are supported by false oor 28which also provides an air space so that the hereinafter described brineor ice tank may effectively serve as a cooling medium.

In constructing cabinet lil a unitary sheet metal sheathing Sii is rstproduced. This sheathing is polygonal in transverse cross-section and anumber of sheet metal panels 32 are bent to form U-shaped members, theends of the legs of which meet on the llongitudinal medial line of thesheathing, as indicated by Fig. 3. l

The abutting ends of these U-shaped panels 32 are inturned to formflanges 34 and these flanges are welded together so that a number ofcircumscribing units are created. Each of these units consists of twoU-shaped members, the ends of Whichare inturned and securely weldedtogether. The edges of the U-shaped units are likewise turned inwardlyto form anges 3E. These flanges 36 are welded together and in theinstance shownin Fig. 3, three of the circumscribing units are fastenedtogether to form a v tubular shell which is polygonal in cross-sectionand which is open at both ends. To finish the sheathing, a panel 38having inturned flanges tt,

is set into the open end and welded to the inof attaching frame 44thereto. This sheathing prior to the introduction of frame 44, isunitary and self-supporting.

The seams that are visible on the outer face of this sheathing may belled with solder or the like, as shown at 46, so that the exterior faceof the cabinet, insofar as the sheathing is concerned, is smooth andwithout projections of any kind. Such construction is highly desirableand necessary because the portable refrigerator is usually anchored in acar or truck with other merchandise and any friction created by relativemovement of cabinet I and associated container, would immediately causedamage.

Frame 44 comprises a number of interconnected wooden elements, all ofwhich are secured to sheathing 3l) through the medium of nails, screwsor analogous means shown at 48. Frame 44 not only serves as areinforcing skeleton, but provides a support for lining 50 which issheet metal and may be secured to frame 44 in any conventional mannerknown in the art.

A filling of insulating material is inserted between sheathing 36 andlining 56. Lining 50 at the bottom of compartment i2, overlies flooring54, which is carried by frame 44 and the weight of the lading istransmitted from flooring 54 to the chassis 56 upon which cabinet I6 ismounted. An intermediate member of frame 44 lies between the top andbottom of cabinet I6 to overcome any tendency of the panels to bulge. Abracket 51 carried by these members 44 of frame 44 is welded to theinner face of panels 3D, as shown in Fig. 4.

An opening 58 provided through the top of cabinet lll near one endthereof, is closable by plug 68 that may be clamped in place by a bar 62so that neck 64 of tank 66 is sealed after ice 68 has been introducedthereto.

Tank 65 has a width slightly less than the inside width of compartmentI2 and the height of tank 65 is such as to allow spaces in the top andbottom thereof, when the tank is in the operative position. The upperportion of tank 66 is reduced in cross-sectional area to create a neck64 and this neck extends upwardly into opening 58 when the tank isassembled with cabinet Ill.

The upward movement of tank 66 is limited by collar 'l0 which extendsaround the edge of compartment I0 iorming opening 58. This collar 'I6 isL-shaped in cross-sectional form and one leg thereof is fastened tocabinet IG while the other leg extends into neck 64, as illustrated inFig. 7. Plug 68 is circumscribed by collar l!) when the parts areassembled.

A specially formed rack having legs 12, spacers 74 and spacers T6,carries tank 66, and legs 12 oi this rack rest upon the oor of thecabinet l0. Legs 12 support the bottom of tank 66 in spaced relation tothe oor of cabinet ID and Spacers 'I4 hold one side of tank 66 in spacedrelation to the end of cabinet I D, close to which opening 58 is formed.

The wall of tank 66 which supports spacers 15 should be reinforced andto accomplish this end, a plate T8 is provided and welded directly tothe side of tank 66.

A clamp 80 is used at each side of tank 66 to preclude lateral movementthereof, in paths of travel intersecting the major plane of tank S6.These clamps each comprise an angle-iron 82 held in place by bolts 84,and the nuts 86' on the threaded ends of bolts 84 are all that need bemanipulated when it is desired to loosen the tank for removal.

A baffle 86 of insulating material is mounted upon the inner side oftank 66 and the means for holding the baiile in spaced relation to tank66, is in the nature of a pair of upwardly and outwardly inclined ears88 carried by spacers T6 and a pair of downwardly and outwardly inclinedhangers 96 carried by baffle 86. Reference to Fig. l indicates themanner in which the action of gravity maintains baie 86 in place againstspacers 16.

A drain pipe 92 extends downwardly through the bottom of cabinet l0 fromtank 66 and a drip pan 94 is carried by legs 12 beneath tank 66, so asto collect any condensate that may drip from the tank or frame. Thisdrip pan 94 empties into a drain tube 96 that also extends through thebottom of cabinet IIJ.

Frequent, periodic removal of tank 6B is necessary when refrigerators ofthe character described, are in use. When it is necessary yto removetank 66, the operator merely lifts baille 86 from position, removes nuts86' and collar 1U, and proceeds to lift the tank and associated frameupwardly until legs 'I2 and the lower portion ol tank 66 can be inclinedand lowered, so as to withdraw neck 64 from opening 58.

False floor 28 is likewise easily removable and when this floor, baille86 and tank 66 are removed, the inner surface of compartment l2 may bethoroughly washed and cleansed. Tank 66 may be quicklyfreplaced and noskilled labor or special tools are necessary to accomplish the end.

It is notable that neck 64 is long, enough to allow the top of tank 66to be spaced fromthe top of cabinet lll, not only to facilitate removalof the tank, but to provide a space for the free circulation of air.Manifestly, a complete cycle from tank 66 around the lading and back totank 66 may occur, if the lading is not stacked so high as to restrictmovement of air between the top oi cabinet I6 and the top of the lading.

Tank 66 and'its associated parts may be constructed separately and apartfrom cabinet It and then moved to position. Likewise a new tank 66 maybe installed without altering or mutilating cabinet l0, or any partthereof.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet having an opening formedthrough the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinet providedwith a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening from the upperpart of the tank; and a rack secured to the tank removably supportingthe tank within the cabinet said tank and rack being movable to and fromthe operative position in the cabinet as a unit.

2. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet having an opening formedthrough the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinet providedwith a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening from the upperpart of the tank; a rack Secured to the tank removably supporting thetank within the cabinet; and a removable retaining collar carried by thecabinet at the edge thereof around the opening for engaging the neck topreclude outward movement of the tank and neck, said tank and rack beingmovable to and from the operative position in the cabinet as a unit.

3. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet having an opening formedthrough the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinet providedwith a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening from the upperpart of thetank; a rack secured to the tank removably supporting thetank within the cabinet; and a removable retainingr collar carried bythe cabinet at the edge thereof around the opening for engaging the neckto preclude outward movement of the tank and neck, said rack includinglegs resting on the bottom of the cabinet at the lower part of the tankto vhold the tank in spaced relation with the bottom of the cabinet andto preclude inward movement of the tank and neck, said tank and rackbeing movable to and from the operative position in the cabinet as aunit.

4. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet having an opening formedthrough the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinet providedwith a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening from the upperpart of the tank; a rack secured to the tank removably supporting thetank within the cabinet; and a removable retaining collar carried by thecabinet at the edge thereof around the opening for engaging the neck topreclude outward movement neck, said rack including legs resting on thebottom of the cabinet at thelower part of the tank to hold the tank inspaced relation with the bottom of the cabinet and to preclude inwardmovement of the tank and neck, said rack having spacers between the tankand cabinetv walls to create passageways for air.

5. In a portable refrigerator, a cabinet having an opening formedthrough the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinet providedwith a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening from the upperpart of the tank; and a rack secured to the tank removably supportingthe tank within the cabinet, said rack including legs at the lower partof the tank for holding the tank in spaced relation to the bottom of thecabinet, spacers between the tank and cabinet walls to createpassagewaysfor air, and a drip pan mounted on the legs beneath the tankabove the bottom of the cabinet, said tank, said rack, and the drip panbeing movable as a unit to and from the operative position in thecabinet.

6. In a portable refrigerator, a box-like cabinet having an openingformed through the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinetprovided with a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening fromthe upper part of the tank as the upper wall of the tank is in spaced ofthe tank and spaced relation with the relation with the top of thecabinet; a rack secured to the tank to hold the tank in spaced relationwith the bottom and'sides of the cabinet; and a baffle of insulatingmaterial removably held through the action of gravity against the rackin spaced relation to the tank.

7. In a portable refrigerator, a box-like cabinet having an openingformed through the top near one end thereof; a tank in the cabinetprovided with a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening fromthe upper part of the tank as the upper wall of the tank is in spacedrelation with the top of the cabinet; a rack secured to the tank to holdthe tank in spaced relation with the bottom and sides of 'the cabinet; abaffle of insulating material removably mounted on the tank in spacedrelation thereto; and means for removably mounting the baille on therack including a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined ears onthe rack and a plurality hangers on the baille, said ears at the hangershaving downwardly inclined, complementary, engaging faces whereby theaction 'of gravity upon the baiiie maintains the same in position.

8. In a portable refrigerator, a box-like cabinet having an openingformed through the top near one end thereof; a brine tank in the cabinetprovided with a reduced neck extending outwardly into said opening fromthe upper part of the tank as the upper wall of the tank is in top ofthe cabinet and as the bottom wall of the tank isvspaced above thebottom of the cabinet; a removable retaining collar. carried by tbecabinet at the edge thereof around the opening for engaging the neck ofthe tank to preclude accidental outward movement of the tank and neck; arack secured to the tank including legs at the bottom of the tank topreclude inward movement of the tank and neck; and spacers along twoopposed sides of the tank; a baffle of insulating material removablymounted on the rack, said spacers serving to create air spaces betweenvsaid tank and the said one end of the cabinet; and clamps in engagementwith the tank to preclude movement of the tank and rack in paths oftravel intersecting the said outward and inward movement.

J O BRELSFORD. JOHN T. CONLON.

of downwardly and outwardly inclined

